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Feb 18 • 10 tweets • 5 min read
Tamil cinema has offered space for dissent in popular culture. It has tried to engage with the current politics and simultaneously questioned social constructs. Read this thread of readings from EPW on cinema and politics.
Most mainstream films that centre caste have, even if unknowingly, not understood the historical roots and cultural background of Dalits. Read B Prabhakaran:
epw.in/journal/2021/5…
The notion of realism, ideology of uplift, and deployment of binaries (classical vs non-classical)-- all provided the Tamil elite with a new language to engage with cinema, in response to the arrival of Talkies, much enthused by the subaltern.
epw.in/journal/2014/4… Image
Read the #EPWArchives on the reaction to Rajinikant’s entry into politics:
Rajinikant came out saying, “We will change everything.” A few political commentators believe that Rajini’s foray.. likely to shake up Tamil politics as MGR’s entry did in the 70s.
epw.in/journal/2020/5…
This article draws attention to the refashioning of conventional cinema; focuses on two questions.

Does the idea of the "popular cinema" itself survive the end of the "great divide"?
Can it really assimilate the political charge of oppositional cinema?
epw.in/journal/2014/3… Image
In this piece, the author argues that the incorporation of critical ideas on society and politics into the mainstream cinema reflects the diminishing potential of dissent in India, and is related to the rise of neo-liberalism and consumer culture.
epw.in/journal/2014/1… Image
Political messaging in Tamil cinema captures activism, dissent and caste inequities with communist sensibilities.
epw.in/journal/2018/3… Image
With movies like Sairat and Kaala, what does it mean in terms of representation and forging a path towards equality? Read "Bahujan Representation on the Big Screen- A Reading List." Free to access.
epw.in/engage/article…
The box-office hit ‘Roja’ evoked in its audience a nationalistic fervour, as the female protagonist fights all odds to rescue her husband, kidnapped by Kashmiri militants. Read: How Mani Ratnam's Roja Made You an Unsuspecting Nationalist.
epw.in/engage/discuss…
We hope you enjoyed this thread of readings on Tamil cinema and politics. You can access the EPW website with a subscription plan.
Digital access starts at Rs 770 per year. Find more details, here: bit.ly/epw-subscribe

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